Serving our West Ridge Community and Partners
Galatians 6:2 – Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.
There are times when our West Ridge community is faced with rough patches financially and emotionally. West Ridge Cares (WRC) strives to show God’s love by bringing comfort, encouragement, and sense of community to those who need it most.
There are also our partners, who we are so very blessed to serve in their community. Through various outreach efforts, WRC is able to provide the things they need and lift them up by showing them God’s love.
There are many ways we can provide help and how you can serve in our community:
Kids Hope USA
For children, elementary years are critical for their development, as they form values, establish self-esteem, and acquire academic skills. Often this includes having support, encouragement, and one-on-one attention. Through a Kids Hope USA mentoring program, students develop transformative relationships with an additional caring and consistent adult, empowering them to thrive. For more details, click here.
Prayer Team
Our prayer team meets regularly and prays for all of the requests that come through the church. The team welcomes anyone who has a heart for prayer. If you need prayer, click here.
Card Ministry
Countless cards are sent to bring encouragement to people who are sick, suffering, or discouraged. Amazingly, a card in the mail can make such an impact on someone’s day. The team is always open to creative people who want to put pen to paper or create beautiful cards.
Meals Team
The meals teams provide tasty dinners to those in our community who may have had surgery, loss of a family member, are sick, and discouraged. This is a team that always needs volunteers to help those who may not be able to temporarily provide meals for themselves or their families.
There are also many ways we partner outside of our community to help make a difference in local outreach.
Huff Elementary
Since 2011, we love to serve the families that live in the footprint of Huff Elementary School. It all began with one teacher’s desire to help children in her school to help make a difference in one of Elgin’s poorest neighborhoods. Through this partnership, our church community collects winter coats, food for school breaks, and holds an annual Toy Sale so parents can provide gifts for their children on Christmas morning.
Through generous donations, we recently helped finance new equipment for the Huff playground and we hear the kids are enjoying every minute they get to play on it.
We look forward to continuing this partnership and finding new ways to help the families at Huff.
Fellowship Housing
Single moms are some of the hardest-working people on the planet. For more than 30 years, Fellowship Housing has helped these single mothers and their kids in times of crisis so they can regain stability, break cycles of poverty, and build a new legacy for their family. West Ridge is proud to partner with Fellowship Housing and their work with more than 50 families in Kane, McHenry, DuPage, Lake, and Cook counties. WRC, Next Gen Ministry, and the Women of West Ridge work together to provide encouragement and help to these moms throughout the year by supplying Easter Baskets, Mother’s Day gifts, backpacks for school, food for their Back-to-School event, and more. West Ridge also hosts events for Fellowship Housing, including a graduation service for moms who have completed the two-year program and a breakfast with Santa (in December). We have more planned for the upcoming year and looking forward to finding ways to continue to support this effort.
PADS of Elgin
PADS of Elgin meets the basic needs of homeless individuals first. They provide a safe place to sleep, meals, showers, laundry facilities, and personal hygiene products.
WRC serves the second Sunday of every month to donate food and to serve community meals.